15th Sino-German Media Forum

A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to join you today for the 15th Sino-German Media Forum. 

I thank the organizers, China Media Management Inc, a member of the SDG Media Compact, and the Global Times for their efforts in bringing this event together.

Our world is currently facing unprecedented challenges. 

As mentioned last year during my attendance at the 2023 Media Forum Fireside Chat Series, inequalities, conflicts, climate change, geopolitics, and human-induced crises have hindered our progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

With just 17% of targets relating to the Sustainable Development Goals on track, we are at a pivotal time when cooperation between countries and sectors becomes paramount. 

The 2024 Summit of the Future, which concluded a few weeks ago and saw the adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations, presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset multilateralism and improve the state of international cooperation to unite all stakeholders, negotiate solutions to financial and security challenges, and secure a safer world for future generations as espoused in the UN Charter. 

Throughout the first half of this year, the UN in China has worked with diverse stakeholders—including representatives from China, Germany, the private sector, and academia—while leading Pre-Summit dialogues to align the priorities of the Summit of the Future with China’s development context and foster inclusive, global partnerships.

During these discussions, the role of artificial intelligence was examined, as we looked to its implications on sustainable development and stressed the need to ensure its effective global governance.

Indeed, as the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Left unchecked, the dangers posed by artificial intelligence could have serious implications for democracy, peace and stability. This can start with the proliferation of mis- and disinformation, the spread of hate speech and the use of so-called deepfakes.”

Here, the media has an important role to play in ensuring that artificial intelligence is instead used as a tool to promote and enhance civic participation.

Today, as Chinese and German media come together, we are presented with significant opportunities for joint media initiatives. 

In line with the newly enacted Global Digital Compact, which aims to foster a safe, unified, and accessible digital space, the media’s goal should be to leverage diverse perspectives to create more impactful news and current affairs content. 

Through such efforts, the media can also take on a larger role in highlighting global sustainability solutions and enhancing the reliability of information, as we combat disinformation, misinformation and hate speech. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Time is running out, and our challenges will worsen, and we will fail to seize opportunities if we do not act now. 

But it is not too late. 

With only six years left to achieve our SDGs, we need to leverage the forces of all sectors to accelerate our progress.

The Summit of the Future has proven that from collective efforts, it is possible to lay out the foundations needed to realign the world on the right track and open pathways to new possibilities.

As the Resident Coordinator for the UN in China, you can count on my support for the initiatives that will emerge from your discussions over the next two days at this year’s Sino-German Media Forum.

Thank you.